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Commissaries Assist Efforts to Raise Voting Awareness Among Military

FORT LEE, Va. - Commissaries worldwide are participating in a unique partnership with the Federal Voting Assistance Program and the Department of Defense to encourage all members of the uniformed services, retirees, and their families to register and vote.

September 9, 2004, 08:00 pm

FORT LEE, Va. - Commissaries worldwide are participating in a unique partnership with the Federal Voting Assistance Program and the Department of Defense to encourage all members of the uniformed services, retirees, and their families to register and vote.

This is the first time commissaries have participated with the Federal Voting Assistance Program and DOD to lead in the effort to make service members more aware of voting, The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) told Progressive Grocer.

"Since commissaries are among the busiest locations on any installation, we can make a significant contribution toward increasing awareness among military families of the importance of registering to vote," said DeCA c.e.o. Patrick B. Nixon.

Around the world, commissary employees are working directly with installation voting assistance officers, making space available for voter information and registration tables. There are no grocery specials tied to the program, however, according to Nixon. It is strictly a community involvement program.

"Our store directors are reporting that as many as 40 to 60 people register to vote during commissary events," said Nixon. "When you have commissaries hosting multiple registration events, there is a great potential to net very impressive results!" DeCA operates 273 commissaries worldwide.

The DeCA effort intensifies during Armed Forces Voters week Sept. 3-11, and throughout the month of September, when all citizens under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) are specifically encouraged to register to vote, or request an absentee ballot.